03 Dec 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic and a series of lockdowns disrupted the civil and building works of Tsabong abattoir, resulting in more than a year delay.

Minister of Entrepreneurship, Mr Karabo Gare told Parliament that there had been many extensions of time that were caused by the then COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic had both direct and indirect impacts as various overseas suppliers were also forced to postpone their production and delivery plans, he said.

Nonetheless, he assured Parliament that the expected completion date for the civil and building works of Tsabong abattoir was set for December.

He said the official groundbreaking of the abattoir was carried out on December 8, 2020 and the actual construction commenced on January 12, 2021 with IPS Botswana as the main contractor.

Mr Gare said the contractor was supported by a team of local civil, building, electrical and mechanical contractors together with an international team of technical specialists from South Africa, Finland and Denmark.

He pointed out that the initial cost of the project was over P161 million but due to inflation and COVID-19, the amount increased to P179 million.

The increases he said were driven by high global inflation specifically affecting freight rates, and commodity price increases on inputs like structural steel, copper cabling, electronics and equipment.

He also clarified that the current expenditure on the project as of the last contractor claim was over P147 million.

The minister was responding to a question from Kgalagadi South MP, Mr Sam Brooks who wanted a detailed update on the construction of the Tsabong abattoir. Ends